Milam County, Texas

• Walnut Grove Lodge No. 145, AF&AM - located in James Jones Community - Chartered: 17 January 1855 and demised in 1871.
• San Andres Lodge No. 170, AF&AM - located in Cameron - Chartered: 24 January 1856 - The first Masonic Lodge in Milam County and originally met in Cameron on Wednesday before the full moon in each month. The lodge is currently located at 106 W. 6th St. in Cameron. The lodge now meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, and has about 70 members. A request for a Charter was made to The Grand Lodge of Texas in 1853 under the name of San Andres Lodge, and was assigned Lodge No. 107. This charter was never issued, but the name was used when requested again and the Charter was granted in 1856. The mailing address: P. O. Box 12, Cameron, 76520-0012. Lodge Phone: 254/697-2307
• List of Worshipful Masters, 1855-2004
• St. Paul Lodge No. 177, AF&AM - located in Maysfield - Chartered: 23 January 1856 - In 1878, a book shows this Lodge met in Port Sullivan on or after each full moon and had 71 members. The lodge demised in 1896.
• Bryant Station Lodge No. 311, AF&AM - located at Bryant Station - Chartered: 10 June 1868 - The Lodge met on the 1st Saturday in each month and in 1878, had 23 members. The lodge demised in 1881.
• Davilla Lodge No. 340, AF&AM - located in Davilla - Chartered: 12 June 1872 - The lodge met on the Saturday on or before the full moon. In 1878, the lodge had 28 members. The lodge demised in 1881.
• Little River Lodge No. 397, AF&AM - located in Jones Prairie - Chartered: in June 1874 - The lodge met on the Saturday on or before the full moon. In 1914, the lodge had 31 members. Merged with the San Andres Lodge No. 170 in December 1931.
• Rockdale Lodge No. 414, AF&AM - located in Rockdale - Chartered: 4 June 1875 - In 1914, the lodge met on the 4th Friday of cash month, and had 87 members. The present day lodge is located at 789 N. US Hwy 77, Rockdale and meets on the 1st Thursday of each month with a meal at 6:30 p.m. and meeting at 7:30 pm. There are 99 members of the lodge. The mailing address: P. O. Box 225, Rockdale, 76567. Lodge Phone: 512/446-2492
• Milano Lodge No. 605, AF&AM - located in Milano - Chartered: 12 December 1884 - The lodge originally met on Saturday night on or before the full moon in each month. In 1914, the lodge had 13 members. Today, there are approx. 30 members and they meet on the 3rd Tuesday at 321 West Avenue E in Milano at 7:30 p.m. The mailing address: P. O. Box 425, Milano, 76556. Lodge Phone: 512/446-4162
• Yarrellton Lodge No. 648, AF&AM - located in Buckholts, R.F.D. No. 2 - Chartered: 17 December 1886 - They met on Saturday night on or before the full moon. In 1914, the lodge had 56 members, and there were 50 members in 1931. The Yarrellton Lodge merged with San Andres Lodge No. 170 on 9 September 1967.
• Baileyville Lodge No. 891, AF&AM - located in Baileyville - Chartered 8 December 1904 - They met on the Friday night on or after the full moon. In 1914, the lodge had 21 members, and there were 37 members in 1931. The lodge merged with San Andres Lodge No. 170 on 21 August 1952.
• Thorndale Lodge No. 978, AF&AM - located in Thorndale - Chartered: 3 December 1908 - Originally, the lodge met on the Tuesday night before the full moon in each month. In 1914, there were 53 members. Today, they have 36 members and meet on the 2nd Monday at 7:30 p.m. at 219 S. Main in Thorndale. The mailing address: P. O. Box 120, Thorndale, 76577.
• Gause Lodge No. 1045, AF&AM - located in Gause - Chartered: 5 December 1911 - The lodge met on the Saturday on or after the full moon. In 1914, the lodge had 21 members. It was demised in 1936.
• Buckholts Lodge No. 1092, AF&AM - located at Buckholts - Chartered: 4 December 1913 - The lodge met on Thursday night on or before the full moon. In 1931, the lodge had 29 members. They merged with San Andres Lodge No. 170 on 30 August 1962.

Often researchers seek information concerning the possible Masonic affiliation of an ancestor. In TEXAS, as of February 15, 2005, the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas has instituted new rules as to what Masonic Records are available to the general public.

The staff of the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas (located at 715 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas), will perform a Masonic Record Search using the Grand Lodge of Texas Archival Membership Index File.

There will be a $10.00 fee for each individual search. This fee goes toward the support of the Grand Lodge Library and Museum. Please allow up to 8 weeks for a response to your inquiry. Click here for Request Form(form in .pdf format).

This search will provide Membership Information Only. It will show what Texas Masonic Lodge the person belonged to and will show if the person was an officer of a Texas Masonic Lodge, or an officer of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

There is NO biographical information in these files. Once you find what Masonic Lodge a person belonged to, you will then need to contact that Lodge directly to inquire as to what may be in that member's file.

Why did the lodges met on or around the dates of the full moon? - - The answer: The full moon gives off the most light to make it easier for the lodge members to travel in the dark going to and from the lodge. In 2004, there were only 17 of the 884 Masonic Lodges in Texas that still meet according to the dates of the full moon, and these are in small towns or communities. The reason now may more "traditional" than practical.

The "Colored Masonic Lodges" are completely separate organizations and are not officially recognized by The Grand Lodge of Texas, AF&AM. The "Colored Masonic Lodges" go back to the time of the American Revolution when Prince Hall and 14 other free black men were initiated into Masonry in Boston by the Grand Lodge in Ireland, and ultimately Prince Hall formed the African Lodge No. 1 on 3 July 1776. According to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, AF&AM web site, "...the first Negro Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges organized in Texas..." was established in 1871. There are four "colored" Grand Lodges in Texas, the largest and most prominent being the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.

The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas is located at: P. O. Box 1478, Fort Worth, Texas 76101 - Office telephone 817/534-4612.

Thanks to Loyd O. Addy, Sr. of Fort Worth, Texas who is the Webmaster for The Grand Lodge of Texas, AF&AM for his kind help and assistance with information on the Masonic Lodges of Milam County, Texas.